Triple Tow

[D_B Travelers]

Originally Posted by Captain America

I pull trailers behind my 5th wheel with no trouble. Don't even know there is a trailer behind the RV, doesn't tow any different.
The trailer behind the RV tracks with the RV, because the RV has a large tail swing.

In Texas the law states only a double trailer can be pulled behind a 5th wheel/gooseneck, no bumper pull to bumper pull. Max length 65'

Hey Cap'n, where do you find that the double trailer has to be a 5th wheel or gooseneck? Just asking, because I don't find any mention of how the trailers are connected, just the 65' limit. I looked, honest.

[bob dirt]

When I had a 5er (toy Hauler), I would tow it with a sand rail in it and a trailer behind it with a couple of quads or dirtbikes over to the the sand dunes in California. There were tons of people doing the same thing and more of them were from Cali than Arizona. I would also tow my jet skis behind the hauler to Laughlin to play on the river. Never an issue towing...just had to think ahead about how to get out of a parking lot or gas station without backing up.
Here's my doubles now. It's in Mexico

[Captain America]

I read that many years (5-6) ago on a state of Texas website.
They might of changed the law since then.
I'll dig around for the information or I'll call DPS. Don't want to misinform.

[Biily]

Originally Posted by D_B Travelers

Oh, and Biily, beautiful 5er and TV!

Thanks D B

This trip w 2 trailers always ends 230 miles up the road and I don't stop anywhere along the way.

If I ever get in a bind the trailer can be moved by hand unloaded. I also have a ball on the golf cart if I have to move the trailer more than a few feet.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by D_B Travelers

Hey Cap'n, where do you find that the double trailer has to be a 5th wheel or gooseneck? Just asking, because I don't find any mention of how the trailers are connected, just the 65' limit. I looked, honest.

I have seen that too, just don't recall for which states. I think in NC it is a gray area. I have a buddy that pulls a bumper pull equipment trailer with another small bumper pull utility trailer. He has only been hassled by local cops, but they couldn't find the specific ordinance to ticket him under so it got tossed.

Aaron

[downtime]

I've been double towing my 5rs for a few years and retired from UPS were they pull triples on the turnpike. Have camera on back of camper and surge breaks( Ohio required) on my Taho s/f boat. From Ohio to Lake D'Arbonne, Louisiana (3yrs) is the longest trip and yes we've had blow outs and other issues but when one has been trained by a company like UPS saying it helps is an understatement.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by downtime

I've been double towing my 5rs for a few years and retired from UPS were they pull triples on the turnpike. Have camera on back of camper and surge breaks( Ohio required) on my Taho s/f boat. From Ohio to Lake D'Arbonne, Louisiana (3yrs) is the longest trip and yes we've had blow outs and other issues but when one has been trained by a company like UPS saying it helps is an understatement.

Amateur...



Seriously, I have a lot of respect for anyone that can properly handle a multi trailer rig over the road. I have pulled multiple trailers on a farm and it ain't no picnic. In all my years I have only seen about 4 people that could back up multiple trailers. My grandfather and Uncle being two of them.

Aaron

[f5moab]

Well, for road trains look at Australia's 3B with 110 wheels.
Then there is this...



Just heard on the morning news, ID is looking at long trucks and double tow trailers so see if they are a hazard.

[wahoonc]

Seen the

Volvo 750 ton truck pull

? Pretty impressive, even if they never did leave the loading docks.

Aaron

[Retired JSO]

Florida is Commercial vehicle only on Interstate highways only and from exit/entrance to and from their owner terminal.

[Krlpj05]

Originally Posted by D_B Travelers

Hey Cap'n, where do you find that the double trailer has to be a 5th wheel or gooseneck? Just asking, because I don't find any mention of how the trailers are connected, just the 65' limit. I looked, honest.

Here you go... http://onlinetowingguide.com/towing_laws.html

[Krlpj05]

For all to see http://onlinetowingguide.com/towing_laws.html

[D_B Travelers]

Originally Posted by Krlpj05

Here you go... State Towing Laws

Okay...not being argumentative, but I still don't see anywhere it says it has to be a 5er or Gooseneck for the first trailer. Just says you can pull two trailers, with brakes, with lights, etc. I looked on the TXDOT website that I supplied before and they just do not specify the type of trailer either, else you wouldn't see the UPS guys pulling two trailers.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by Krlpj05

Here you go... State Towing Laws

According to this guide the 101 inch wide Columbus can not be towed in Penn, NJ and Virginia. I wonder how many know this.

[D_B Travelers]

Originally Posted by B and B

According to this guide the 101 inch wide Columbus can not be towed in Penn, NJ and Virginia. I wonder how many know this.

Well, I guess you can forget getting the little state stickers for your RV map in those states! Dang...

I have to think (occasionally it happens to me...really) that your state trooper isn't going to pull out his tape measure and note that you are wider than 96". There are a LOT of wide RVs out there now days! Here is AAA website on trailer laws and they even have TX listed as 8' limit on width. TXDOT says 8'6", and USA Today also says 8'6". I would wager keeping these websites up to the minute correct is not on the top of their To Do list. There is a plethora (new thesaurus!) of misinformation out there, but I would bet going to the state's website where you intend to travel is the best bet.

[D_B Travelers]

Yikes, note the length limits on trailers - 35' in Maryland, New Jersey, and Oregon. Oregon? Really? I have seen those huge timber hauling trucks on their roads WAY longer than 35'! There are lot of states with 40' limits too. So I guess that new 42'6", 102" wide 5er is not the best choice for my next rig?

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by B and B

According to this guide the 101 inch wide Columbus can not be towed in Penn, NJ and Virginia. I wonder how many know this.

Don't go by what some editor typed up and posted on some blog. All the links I've seen so far for a cheat sheet on towing laws were full of flaws. Go to the source. Look up the statutes.

Also Recreation Vehicles laws are separate from Commercial Vehicles. I see a lot of comments above confusing the two.

Here's the actual statute from NJ pertaining to Recreational Vehicles.
To sum it up,
Max length on an RV such as a motor home is 45 feet.
Max length of a combination vehicle (truck & trailer) is 65 feet.
Max width is 102" NOT including lighting and awning upto an additional 3" on each side. (Total width may be up to 108" including factory/dealer installed attachments)


39:3-84. a. (13) The maximum overall length of a recreation vehicle including any load or truck camper thereon found or operated in this State shall not exceed 45 feet and no combination of a recreation vehicle with any vehicle, including the load thereon, nor any combination of any motor vehicle with any camping trailer, fifth wheel trailer or park trailer attached thereto, as these terms are defined in section 1 of P.L.1991, c.483 (C.46:8C-10), shall exceed 65 feet in length. Further, the outside width of a recreation vehicle found or operated in this State shall not exceed 102 inches, excluding safety appurtenances such as awnings and lights which are integral to the construction of the vehicle, installed by the vehicle's manufacturer or dealer, and do not extend more than three inches wide on each side of the vehicle, provided however, that such vehicles permissibly exceeding the 102 inch width with their attached equipment or appurtenances shall only be operated:

(a) On roadways having travel lanes at least 11 feet in width, unless prohibited by the Department of Transportation or by a municipality based on safety reasons and marked with signs prohibiting such vehicles; or

(b) On any roadway of the State when such a vehicle is being operated between roadways permitted under subparagraph (a) of this paragraph; and

(i) The location where the recreation vehicle, fifth wheel trailer, park trailer, camping trailer or truck camper is garaged; or

(ii) The destination of the recreation vehicle, fifth wheel trailer, park trailer, camping trailer or truck camper; or

(iii) A facility for food, fuel, repair, services or rest.

b. No vehicle or combination of vehicles, including load or contents, found or operated on any public road, street or highway or any public or quasi-public property in this State shall exceed the weight limitations set forth in this Title. Violations shall be enforced pursuant to subsection j. of section 5 of P.L.1950, c.142 (C.39:3-84.3).


With all that said I do haul doubles from NJ to FL and never had a problem. I'm right at 65' total length.
And it is double towing as seen in my picture below. Double meaning 2 trailers. Triple towing is triple trailers and is rarely if ever used on the east coast anymore. I have a class A CDL with multiple endorsements including double and triple trailer. The definition is clear in the manual and on the exam.

[D_B Travelers]

Good info! I would wager that the NJ information is pretty standard verbiage for most of the rest of the states with, of course, minor changes to allowable length. Further, if a State Trooper sees a RV traveling down his interstate with double tow but everything looks tight and secure, I don't think he is going to bother you. You may only be traveling through and not even be in his state in 30 minutes, or you might be stopping to spend money in his state; either way why aggravate someone passing through if everything looks in order?

[bowtie_guy]

Can't always get everything in the trailer. 72' long here